To be read in conjunction with the program of study requirements for the Bachelor of Science (Honours) – 4 years.

The Aquaculture Specialisation is offered as part of The Bachelor of Science (Honours) and requires four years of full-time study (or the equivalent part-time). The Specialisation is offered by the School of Biological Sciences, within the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

Specialisations have different admission requirements to other programs of study available in The Bachelor of Science (Honours). In order to undertake a Specialisation students must be admitted to The Specialisation program. The name of The Specialisation will appear on the transcript and parchment.

There is an alternative 1 year program for the Bachelor of Science (Aquaculture) (Honours) for students who have successfully completed a Bachelor of Science (Aquaculture).

Admission requirements

The minimum requirements for consideration for entry to all undergraduate courses are specified in detail in the University Entry Requirements.

Course aims

The course aims to provide students with a broad-based foundation in science together with specialisation in aquaculture. This course enables graduates to develop practical and theoretical skills for a career in The Aquaculture industry. Specifically, the graduates will gain a range of transferable research, analytical and communication skills including the capacity to:

  • understand and apply relevant scientific principles and work effectively, cooperatively and productively within a team
  • critically analyse and evaluate data in aquaculture disciplines and creatively solve practical problems
  • retrieve and present scientific information, including communicating effectively with a variety of audiences in written and spoken form
  • understand the biology of aquaculture organisms and aquaculture principles and practices
  • gain knowledge in Aquaculture Nutrition, husbandry and Water Quality management
  • acquire skills and knowledge in Aquaculture Reproduction, hatchery management and applied genetics
  • build aquaculture infrastructure and solve engineering issues relevant to aquaculture ventures
  • diagnose and manage aquaculture diseases, and manage health and safety issues in aquaculture ventures
  • manage and operate an aquaculture business.

The Honours Year provides students with advanced skills that are required for planning, funding and carrying out Research Projects in a specific area. It also aims to develop a range of transferable research, analytical and communication skills including the capacity to: 

  • understand and apply relevant scientific principles
  • retrieve and present scientific information, including communicating effectively with a variety of audiences in written and spoken form
  • critically analyse and evaluate information and solve problems
  • analyse and evaluate data, appreciate the multidisciplinary aspect of the science disciplines and engage positively with people and ideas beyond their own discipline area
  • use information technology, work independently and take responsibility for updating and adapting their knowledge and skills
  • appreciate the role of science in society, the regulatory framework within which it operates and the ethical issues it raises.

Learning outcomes

On completion of their degree, students will have developed a comprehensive and well-founded knowledge in aquaculture and a range of transferable professional skills.

Graduates of the course are expected to be able to:

  • demonstrate a sound understanding of the biology of aquaculture organisms and of breeding, genetics, nutrition and Water Quality issues relevant to aquaculture
  • design Aquaculture Systems and solve engineering issues in aquaculture
  • employ knowledge of health and safety issues in aquaculture ventures
  • employ scientific techniques, practical skills and business management strategies to improve aquatic resource management
  • understand and interpret critical scientific and ethical issues in aquaculture
  • employ scientific methodologies such as Experimental Design, quantitative skills, and the critical analysis of data
  • communicate and present information clearly and fluently in both written and spoken forms
  • interact effectively as part of a team in order to work towards a common outcome
  • work and learn independently
  • reason critically and logically and make independent judgements
  • engage effectively with information and communication technologies
  • demonstrate research skills appropriate for further study and employment
  • appreciate the need for continuing professional development.

Graduates of The Honours Year are expected to be able to:

  • critically analyse the scientific literature and use this as a basis for planning Research Projects
  • understand how scientific research is funded
  • formulate hypothesises and design appropriate experiments to test them
  • use appropriate methods, techniques, equipment and instrumentation to ethically collect scientific data
  • use appropriate statistical methods to analyse scientific data
  • communicate their findings to a variety of audiences in written and spoken form.

Program of study

To qualify for The Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Aquaculture) a student must complete 144 units, with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study detailed below.

No more than 45 units of First Year level topics may be included in the 144 units for the degree. 

Elective topics to complete 144 units may be selected from any offered within the University or, with approval from the Faculty of Science and Engineering, from outside the University, provided any course and prerequisite requirements are met.

Upon completion of at least 103.5 units and with a GPA of 5 or more in the last 36 units of study, students may commence the Fourth Year Honours program. Students who do not meet the GPA requirement will exit with the Bachelor of Science (Aquaculture) on completion of 108 units.

Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.

Students who have completed 72 units or more with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the following rule, may exit with the Diploma in Applied Science:

  • at least 27 units from the First Year science topics offered by the Faculty of Science and Engineering
  • at least 18 units from Second or Third Year science topics offered by the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

Students who have completed 108 units according to the first three years of the Program may choose to exit with The Bachelor of Science (Aquaculture).

Except where there is an approved double specialisation (see Bachelor of Science Honours program of study) the same upper level (2xxx or above) topic cannot be counted twice. For example an upper level topic that is counted towards a specialisation may not also be counted towards a minor.

Specialisation - Aquaculture - Year 1 topics

36 units comprising:

 BIOL1101  Evolution of Biological Diversity  (4.5 units)
 BIOL1102  Molecular Basis of Life  (4.5 units)
 BIOL1201  Introduction to Aquaculture#  (4.5 units)

Plus 9 units of First Year Science topics topics

Plus 9 units of elective topics*^ from across the University where entry requirements are met.

Plus one of:

 CHEM1101  Chemical Structure and Bonding#  (4.5 units)  
 CHEM1201  General Chemistry#  (4.5 units)

Specialisation - Aquaculture - Year 2 topics

36 units comprising:

 BIOL2701  Experimental Design and Statistics for Biology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2702  Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2711  Ecology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2712  Animal Diversity  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2731  Aquaculture Nutrition and Water Quality  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2732  Aquaculture Systems and Technology  (4.5 units)

Plus 9 units of elective topics*^ from across the University where entry requirements are met.

Specialisation - Aquaculture - Year 3 topics

36 units comprising:

 BIOL2722  Disease and Immunology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3711  Plant and Algal Diversity  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3731  Aquaculture Reproduction  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3732  Aquaculture Health and Product Quality  (4.5 units)
 BUSN2026  Entrepreneurship and Small Business  (4.5 units)

Plus 9 units of elective topics*^ from across the University where entry requirements are met.

Plus one of:

 BIOL3702  Marine and Freshwater Biology  (4.5 units) 
 BIOL3712  Integrative Physiology of Animals and Plants  (4.5 units) 
 BUSN3026  Business Planning for New Ventures  (4.5 units)

Specialisation - Aquaculture - Honours Year topics

36 units comprising:

 BIOL4700A  Biology Honours Research Project  (4.5/22.5 units)  
 BIOL4700B  Biology Honours Research Project  (4.5/22.5 units)  
 BIOL4700C  Biology Honours Research Project  (4.5/22.5 units)  
 BIOL4700D  Biology Honours Research Project  (4.5/22.5 units)  
 BIOL4700E  Biology Honours Research Project  (4.5/22.5 units)  
 BIOL4710  Honours Critical Readings  (4.5 units)
 BIOL4720  Honours Grant Writing Skills  (4.5 units)
 BIOL4730  Honours Scientific Methods and Data Presentation  (4.5 units)

or other topics approved by the Honours Committee, appropriate to a student's program.

#These topics are cognate studies topics which must be taken to complete The Specialisation.

*Students may choose to undertake a Bachelor of Science (Honours) Minor as part of the elective component of their degree subject to meeting course/topic requirements.

^Specialisation - Aquaculture - Recommended Electives

While students are able to select elective units from anywhere across the University, these are Recommended Electives.

 BIOL1112  Biology and Society**  (4.5 units)
 BIOL1301  Introduction to Marine Biology**  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2742  Marine Ecology**  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3700  Biology Research Project  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3701  Conservation Biology and Restoration Ecology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3751  Marine Mammals, Birds and Reptiles  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3752  Fisheries Biology, Science and Management**  (4.5 units)
 CHEM1102  Modern Chemistry**  (4.5 units)
 EASC1101  Earth and Environmental Sciences  (4.5 units)
 EASC1102  Marine Sciences  (4.5 units)
 EASC2701  Coasts and Oceans  (4.5 units)
 ENVR1101  Environmental Science  (4.5 units)
 ENVS2721  Environmental Decision Making Tools  (4.5 units)
 PHYS1701  Physics for the Modern World  (4.5 units)
 STAT1412  Data Analysis Laboratory**  (4.5 units)

**Highly Recommended Electives

Combined Degrees

The Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Aquaculture) may also be studied in a combined degrees program with the: